Dispensing package



May 29, 1928. 1,671,285.

J. P. ANNA DISPENSING PACKAGE Filed Feb. 14, 1924 Patented May 29, 1928.

I 1,671,285 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN PAUL HANNA, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DISPENSING PACKAGE.

Application filed February 14, 1924. Serial No. 692,670.

This invention relates generally to dispensing packages, and pertains particularly to an improved package of material in the nature of tablets or lozenges, such as medical tablets.

The general purpose of the invention is the provision of such a package which may be manufactured at. low cost, which will presm've the material against deterioration and from excessive air or moisture Contact and against soiling, which is particularly adapted for being carried on theperson, as in the pocket. or in a hand bag, and which will facilitate the dispensing of the contained material in the quantities and at the times desired.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a package which is particularly adapted to minimize and simplify the manipulations incident to dispensing the material, and which reduces to a minimum the amount of handling of the material requisite to remove it for itsintended use.

Another object is the provision of such a package possessing special attributes in preventing unintentional removal or discharge of the material.

Another object is the provision of such a package especially equipped to facilitate ascertainment of the amount of its contents.

Other and further objects of the invention will be pointed out hereinafter, indicated in the appended claims, or obviousupon an understanding of the present dlsclosure. For the purpose of this application 1 have elected to disclose herein one form in which the invention may be embodied, but it is to be understood that such showing is made for the purpose of illustration only, and is not to be accorded the effect of limiting what I purport to secure, short of the true and most comprehensive scope of the invention in the art.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative package, showing the cover removed;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the package with the cover in place;

Fig. 3 is a top View with the cover removed; and

Fig. 4 is a detail in the nature of a longitu'dinal'section of a slightly modified form.

The nature of the invention will best be understood by reference to this illustrative "form in detail, the various parts thereof be ing designated in the drawing by reference characters. Let "it be understood that the reference numeral '15 designates the body portion of a container which is of generally cylindrical, tubular form. This preferably may be constructed of suitable light sheet material, such as very light metal, celluloid, or others having the necessary strength and stability. The lower end of this body member is closed in suitable fashion by a bottom 16 which is retained securely in place. At its upper end the body portion carries a retaining member 17 secured at one end to a longitudinal extension 18 on the wall of the body member, which retaining member extends across the major portion of the bore of the body member. Throughout most of its perimeter this retaining member is spaced above the end of the body member by a distance which is approximately the thickness of one of the tablets or other articles for which the container is designed, so that the articles may beengaged at opposite portions of their peripheries. llts transverse width is preferably slightly less than the width of the bore of the body member. Approximately coaxially with the bore-of the body member, the retaining member 17 is formed with an aperture 19 which may afford a seat for the purpose hereinafter referred to. A cover cap 20 is arranged to fit upon the upper end of the body 15 to close the same and house the retaining member 17. The body member 15 may be provided with a narrow longitudinal slot 21 which is covered with a sheet 22 of transparent ma.- terial.

1n the body member 15 is disposed the material to be dispensed, in the form. of a number of tablets 24:, which conform to the cross-sectional shape of the body member and are of such size as to slide freely therethrough and be retained thereby in approximately coaxial relationship. Between the lowermost of these tablets and the bottom closure 16 is interposed alight follower spring 25 which is extensible for the full length of the body portion and tends to urge the tablets toward the retaining member 17. In the normal manufacture of the package, the tablets are inserted from the bottom preceding the placing of the spring 25 and afiixing of the bottom closure 16. As a means for determining the number of tablets remaining in'the package at any time, all, or those near the bottom, may be prosided with, distinctive markings, such as numerals corresponding to their original order inthe package. These markings may be formed on their peripheries,. as illustrated, or upon their end 'faces as shown in Fig. 3, or otherwise associated with them so as to be visible on the uppermost tablet when the cover is removed or through a transparent window 20 in the same. i In most instances-the end surfaces of tablets such as medicinal-tablets, etc., are of dome or spherical contour. Consequently, the pressure from the spring transmitted to the uppermost tablet will tend to seat a portion of its spherical surface in the axia seat afl'orded by the aperture 19. This co-operates to prevent unintentional dislod ment of the tablet from under the retaining ember 17. The uppermost tablet may be w'thdrawn, however, after the cap 2Uis removed, by engaging it laterally with the lingers at opposite sides of the retaining member 17 and withdrawingit from under the latter, whereupon the subjacent tablet moves into engagement with the retaining member.

I have found that the arrangement permitting withdrawal of the tablet by lateral engagement is of distinct advantage in the dis ensing of material such as the pressed tab ets for which this ackage is particularly designed. It not on y permits a grasp of ,the tablet which is natural and tends to prevent its being dropped, but it enables the artiele bein moved much more positively than is possib e where merely an engagement of the top surface is depended upon, and with less lirelihood of soiling. l urthermore, it permits the retaining contact of the retaining member with portions of the tablet away from the mar ins thereof, thus tending to prevent crumb ing' or chi ping of their marginal portions as the tab ets are shifted'into contact with the retaining member. With the cover 20 in place, the tablets are fully protected, and the contents maybe inspected through the slot 21. While the aperture 19 has the added utility of permitting inspection of the endnumeral on the uppermost tablet, the centering and retaining function of the seat may be obtained by forming the retaining member in other fashion, as with the seat depression 26 illustrated in Fi 4. Disengagement of the domed portion 0 the tablet from the seat is permitted by the yieldable support of the subjacent tablet.

Wh1le by provision of a detachable and relacea le bottom cover, the container is a aptable to refilling, the construction affor s of such sim licity and economy that it may be employe as a merchandising package, not designed for refilling. Because of its secure retention of the contained tablets against accidental s illing, in conjunction with the readiness o intentional removal of menses them which it permits, the package is of particular utility for carryin 1nuterial in the pocket or in a purse or lad ys hand bag.

I claim:

1. A package comprising the combination of a tubular body portion a stack of tablets therein,.a retaining member at one end oi the body portion disposed to contact the outer end'pif the uppermost tablet, said retaining member being of less width than the tablets and spaced from the end of the body member to permit lateral withdrawal of a tablet between them, a removable cover for housin the retaining member and closing the end of the tube and a follower spring arranged to urge tablets toward the retaining member.

2. A ackage comprising the combination of a tu ular body member, a series of tablets movable coaxially therein, a retaining member mounted at one end of the body member and extending transversely of its bore for contact with the end tablet, said retain'in member being of less width than the tab ets so that diametrically opposite marginal portions of the latter project laterally beyond it, andan extension spring at the other end of, the body member for urging the tablets toward the retaining member.

ill in a package, the combination of a tubular. body member for reception of tablets, a retaining member at one end of the body member extended across the bore thereof but of less width than said bore, said retaining member bein provided with an aperture on the axis of t is bore, a removable cover for enclosing the retaining member and adjacentand of the body-member, and a l'ollower sprin' for moving tablets through the bore towar theretaining member.

4. A ackaging device comprisin the combination of a tubular body mem er, a retaining member mounted at one end of the body member and extending transversely of the bore thereof, said retaining member being spaced apart from the body mmber throughout the major portion of its erimeter, to permit. enga ement of artic es between them, a move l'e cover for the slot,

and a follower spring for movin articles through the body member tower the retaini'ng member.

5. A ackaging device comprisin the till Hill 

